Somehow, in the biggest moment of the season, two of the nation’s best teams got away from what they do best: run the ball.

Oregon built its program on the run game under coach Chip Kelly, but carried the ball only 40 times Saturday in a 17-14 overtime loss to Stanford. The Ducks were averaging 54 carries a game going into this weekend, and had just 40 carries for 198 yards (127 yards below their season average) against the Cardinal.

Last week, Alabama had first-and-goal from the Texas A&M 6, and ran once with its tailbacks—behind its star-filled offensive line—in four downs before quarterback AJ McCarron threw and interception.

“They played really well defensively,” Kelly said after the game. “They did things to take us out of what we do.”

Oregon got a 78-yard run by quarterback Marcus Mariota early in the game, and other than that carry, had 39 carries for 120 yards. Mariota had 11 carries for 11 yards outside of the one long gain.

Still, Oregon threw more times on first down—and more times than they have all season (37)—and had little success. Mariota barely completed 50 percent of his passes (21-of-37), threw an interception and never really looked comfortable in the pass game.

With all that speed in the backfield—Mariota, tailback Kenjon Barner, tailback DeAnthony Thomas—the Ducks gave up too soon and failed to sustain the run game. Barner, the team’s Heisman Trophy candidate, touched the ball 21 times.

Barner never touched it in overtime, and the Ducks eventually were staring at third- and-9—and a third down pass from Mariota was way off before a missed 41-yard field goal.

A week ago, McCarron threw an interception on fourth-and-goal from the Texas A&M 2, and the Tide never got the ball back. The difference between the two teams:

Alabama controls its destiny to get back to the BCS National Championship Game. Oregon needs a miracle.